Automatic circuit-breaker.



.No. 897,858. v v PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

' v vH. P. BALL. AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKER.

, APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1903 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1i NVENTOR W f? flag.

A T FRNEY .Hun m lu l PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908. H. P. BALL. 7 AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKER.

, APPLICATION FILED JAN. a1, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' UNITED STATES IAZFENT orrros.

HENRY PRICE BALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL INOANDESCENT ARC LIGHT COMPANY, 01 NEW YORK, A CORPORATION.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

No. 897,858. Specification of Application filed January 31, 1903. Serial No. 141,319.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HE-Nnr Pnron BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Circuit-Breakers, of which the following is a specification.-

M y invention relates to circuit breakers of the type adapted to be used in connection with an oil'switch or other switching apparatus and to be. actuated .by an over-load in the circuit in which it is included.

The object of'my invention is primarily to provide means whereby the circuit breaker mechanism cannot be deliberately held closed against an over-load or short circuit; and secondarily, to provide a construction whereby the hand-leverfthrough which the switch mechanism is actuated to close the circuit, will not be moved when the switch is actuated to break the circuit, thereby preventing possibility of injury to a person passing the switch-board, by the sudden outward and downward movement of the hand lever when the switch opens, as is now the case with the major portion of the circuit breaker mechanisms which have heretofore been constructed.

The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved actuating mechanism, mounted on the front of a switch board and connected to an oil switch, which is shown partially in sec- 35 tion, mounted on the back of the switchboard. This view also showing in diagram, the circuit connections between the generator of a three phase distribution system, an over-load device, and circuit breaker. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the upper part of the switch-board in section, and showing the handdever at right angles to the switchboard and in the position which it would occupy preparatory to closing the switch. Fig. 3 is a front view of the actuating mechanism with the hand lever in the upper position. Fig. 4 is a section and planview on the line X X of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section and plan view on the line Y Y of- Fig. 3.

Similar numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings, indicates a switchboard. Mounted on the front of the switchboard is a plate 11, from about the center of which projects the horizontal bearings 12.

horizontal shaft 13, on which is pivotally mounted the hand-lever 14. This handlever consists of a handle 15, and the side plates 16. Mounted on the shaft 13 between the side plates 16 of the hand-lever is a second lever 17, which consists of a hub portion 18, upwardly extending bifurcated portion 19 and two downwardly extending portions 20 having the shape ofa sector, as shown in Fig. 2. Projecting outwardly from the sector portions 20 are the horizontal pins 21. Arranged over the hub portion 18 are the coiled springs 22. The opposing ends of each spring 22 include between them a pin 21, and also a projection 23, extending from the front of late 11, as is shown in Fig. 2, The object of these springs is to impart an upward or downward movement to the lever '17, depending upon the position into which it has been moved by the handle 15, and through the lever 17 ,a horizontal movement to the connecting rod 24, pivoted to the sector portion 20 of the lever 17, and .to the connecting rod 25 pivotally connected to the rod 24, and a rocking motion to the switch blade 26 of the oil well 27, when the circuit breaker is actuated under the influence of an overload. It will be seen by reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, that the springs 22 will exert an active ressure and irrespective of whether the ban -lever is in the position shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 3.

In order to engage the lever 17 with the hand-lever 14, to move this lever to either the top or bottom position, as shown res ectively in Figs. 3 and 1, the bifurcated en 19 of the lever 17 is rounded and has formed in it a concave slot 28. This slot 28 is adapted to engage with a horizontally disposed latch pin 29, carried in arms 30, pivotally secured -1n bearings 31, Fi 5, projecting backward from the arms 16 of the hand-lever 14. Situated over the pin 29 is a spring 32, which normally presses the pin downward, and in contact with a pin 31 arranged transversely of the lever 17. It will be seen that when the hand lever 14 is moved over the lever 17, that the pin 29 will engage in the slot 28, of such lever, and further, that when said levers 14 and 17 are in engagement that any movement of the lever 14 upward or downward will-carry with it the lever 17 and hence-effect longitudinal movement of the connecting rods 24 25, and reciprocate switch blade 26 Mounted and secured in these bearings is ,a'

of the oil switch 27, thereby throwing such switch blade into engagement with one or the other of the spring contacts 26 26 of the springs oil switch 27 or into the central position, indicated by the dotted lines 26 In order to hold the lever 14 either in the top or bottom position, I provide the latches 33. These latches are adapted to engage with a pin 34, arranged transversely of the side plates 16 near to the handle 15 as shown in Fig. 3. These latches are spring pressed through the springs and are provided with handles 36 through which they may be moved to release the hand lever 14.

In order to release the lever 17 from engagement with the hand-lever 14, upon the occurence of an over-load, I provide the device which I will now describe. Mounted on the plate 11, at the right of the lever 17, is a solenoidal magnet 37. Arranged to have an upward movement in this magnet is a core, 38, the upper end of which is formed as a pin 39, adapted to move through an opening in. a plate 40, as shown in Fig. 5. Pivotally mounted on' the plate 40 is a lever 41, on the outer end of which is a handle 42, which may be moved to release thelatch and open the circuit breaker when desired. Connected to the rear end of this lever is a link 43, provided with an elongated slot 44, in its upper end, and connected through this slot with an arm securedto sleeve 46, mounted on shaft 47,

. which has its bearings at 48, 49, on the front of plate 11. Pivotally mounted on shaft 47, but secured to and adapted to be mgved when the sleeve 46 is moved, is an arm 50, which extends horizontally forward and downward and has its outer end shaped to form an inclined plane. Located under this arm is a spring 51', which normally tends to lift the arm. Pivotally connected to a projection 52 from the-sleeve 46 is a link 53, which is carried downward and pivotally connected to one side of a bar 54, (Fig. 1), pivoted at 55 to one of the bearings 12.

ivotally connected to the opposite end of the bar 54 is another link 56, whlich is pivotally connected to an arm'57, prcdted to the front plate at 58. Over this arm is a spring 59, which tends to press the arm 57 downwardly. The arm 57 is shaped on its under side to form an inclined plane.

Having reference to Figs. 1, 3 and 5 ,-it will be seen that when the hand-lever 14 is in the top position, the arm 50 lies under the pin 29, and when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the arn1'57 lies over the pin 29. It will be readily understood that when an excessive current of electricity is sent through the solenoid 37, it will lift its core, which, impinging upon lever 41, will raise the lever 41 and through the interposed links and levers,

raise the arm 50 and depress the arm 57, one

of which, acting upon the latch pin 29, will raise or lower it depending upon whether the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 3

the oil switch.

0111, and release the lever 17 and permit the 22 to exert the re uired tension to operate the switch to brea the circuit and bring the lever 17 into the position shown in the dotted lines Fig. 1.

In the diagram, Fig. 1, I have shown a preferred means for connecting the circuit breaker in circuit with a three phase generator, and an over-load device. In this diagram, 60 indicates a three phase generator 61, a series transformer; 62, an over-load device. The primary of the transformer, 63, is connected through conductor 64 with one terminal of dynamo 60 and with the center terminal 27 a of the oil switch 27. The secondary, 65, of the transformer 61', is connected through one'terminal 66 to one terminal of solenoid 37 and through the other terminal 67 to one terminal of solenoid of over-load device 62 and one terminal of this over-load device through conductor 68 to the opposite terminal of solenoid 37. On the ends of the conductors 66 and 68 are the contacts 69, 70. 71 indicates the core of the over-load device. This core carries a bridgepiece 72, adapted to coact with the contacts 69, 7 O, to form a shunt through which the current of the secondary of the transformer 61 is normally transmitted around the magnet 37.

The operation of the device as a whole, is as follows: When the oil switch is open, the

.parts will assume the position shown in the dotted lines, Fig. 1.

- To close the switch the hand lever 14 is moved upward until the latch carried by it engages with the lever 17. The levers 14 and 17 are then moved either upward or downward, as is desired, to close the circuit through the-contact 26 or 26 of Should now, the current transmitted through the primary of the transformer 61, exceed a predetermined amount, a corresponding current will be excited in the secondary of the transformer, which will energize the magnet of the over-load device 62, which will raise its core, and lift the bridgeiece 72 off of the contacts 69, 7 O, and allow the current to pass by conductors 68, 66, through the solenoid 37, thereby energizing the solenoid which, acting upon its core, will release the lever 17 from engagement with the lever 14, permitting it to return to its original position, 'i. 6., that shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and without effecting any movement of the hand lever 14.

Having 'thus described my invention, I claim 1. A double-throw electric switch biased to open when closed and having its open position between two closed positions, an operating lever therefor, and means for automatically feeding the movable switch eleinent from either of its closed positions.

2. A double-throw electric switch biased to open when closed and having its open position between its two closed positions, an

operating lever, therefor, and an electricallysponsive device for breaking said connection.

4. An electric switch comprising a movable switch element having a plurality of closed positions, an operating lever therefor, an independently mounted rocking member adjacent to said lever and connected to the movable switch element, means for connecting said member to said lever, and means for automatically breaking said connection when the switch is in any of its closed positions.

5. An electric switch comprising a movable switch element having a plurality of closed positions, an operating lever therefor, an independently mounted rocking member adjacent to said lever and connected to the movable switch element, an electrically controlled connection between said member and said lever, and means for breaking said. connection when the switch is in any of its closed positions.

6. An electric switch comprising amovable switch element having a plurality of closed positions, an operating lever and a rocking member concentrically mounted and inde pendently movable, said member being connected to said element, a connection between said member and said lever, and automatic means for breaking said connection when the switch is in any of its closed positions.

7. An electric s'wit-ch comprising a support, a movable switch element having a plurality of closed positions, an operating lever, a rocking member connected to said element, a connection between said member and said lever, and automatic means comprising cooperating elements carried by said member and support for breaking said connection when the switch is in any of its closed positions.

8. An electric switch comprising a support, a movable switch element having a plurality of closed positions, an operating lBVi r and a rocking member concentrically mounted and independently movable, said member being connected to said element, a connection between said member and said lever, and automatic means comprising oooperating elements carried by said member and support for breaking said connection when the switch is in any of its closed positions.

9. A double-throw electric switch comprising fixed contacts, a movable contact 00- operating therewith and biased to a neutral position between said lixed contacts, an operating levertherctor, a connection between said lever and said movable element, means for breaking said connection, and a lixcd elmtrically energized coil l'or actuating said breaking means.

10. A double-throw electric switch comprising fixed contacts, a movable contact co opc 'ating therewith and biased to a neutral position between said tixcd contacts, an op erating lever therefor, a connection between said. lever and said movable element, and a single electrically actuated tripping mechanism for breaking said connection when the switch is in either of its closed positions.

11. An electric switch comprising fixed contacts, a movable contact cooperating therewith and biased to a neutral )osition between said fixed contacts, a movable member connected to said movable contact, a movable operating lever adjacent to said movable member, and latching means between said movable member and said lever whereby said lever is latched to said movable member whenever said member and lover assume a predetern'iined relation.

12. In a double-throw electric switch, the combination of a movable switch element, a

movable member connected to said element and adapted to occupy a mid-position corresponding to the open position of said switch, an operating lever pivoted adjacent to said movable member, and latching means between said movable member and said lever whereby said lever is latched to said movable member whenever it is moved into said midposition.

13. A double-throw electric switch biased to open when closed and having its open position between two closed positions, a pivoted hand-lever, a latch carried thereby, a second pivoted lever engaged by the latch on the hand-lever, said levers being movable from a circuit-closing position below their pivotal point to a circuit-closing position above their pivotal point, a switch-blade, a connecting rod between said second named lever and said switch-blade, and means for releasing said second named lever from engagement with said first named lever upon the occurrence of abnormal current in the circuit.

14. A double-throw electric switch comprisingfixed contacts, a switch-blade having a neutral position between said contacts, a pivoted lever movable from a circuit-closing position below its pivotal point to a circuitelosing position above its pivotal point, a connectirg-rod between said lever and said switch-blade, means for moving said lever to different circuit-closing positions, and means for exerting spring pressure upon said lever when moved to circuit-closing position, and means for releasing said lever upon overload.

15. A circuit-breaker having its open. position between its closed positions and biased to open when closed, comprising a hand-operated member, a circuit controlling membar, a latch carried by said hand-operated member and coacting with said circuit controlling member, latches engaging with said hand-operatml member to hold it in different circuit-closing positions, an electro-responsivc device, and means actuated by theelectic-responsive device for releasing said circ" cimtrolling member from engagement v .th said hand-operated member uponthe occurrence of abnormal current in the circuit.

t A circuit breaker comprising two l adapted to be coincidently moved from the horizontal plane occupied by their pivotal pointto a vertical plane above'or' l, 1 my the pivotal point, means whereby the motion imparted to one lever will be com-.

municated to the other, means for holding said levers in either of said vertical planes, and electro-responsive means adapted to release one of said levers upon the occurrence of abnormal current in the circuit.

17. In an electric switch, fixed contacts, a movable contact cooperating therewith and having a neutral position between said fixed contacts, a pivoted hand-lever, a latch carried thereby, a second pivoted lever engaged by said latch on the first named lever, said levers adapted to be co incidently moved from the horizontal plane of their pivotal points to vertical planes above or below the pivotal points, connections between 'saidsecond lever and said movable contact, means put under tension by the movement of the second named lever, and electro-responsive means for releasing said latch and. permitting movement of, the second named lever away from the named lever.

18. In an electric switch, fixed contacts, a

movable contact cooperating therewith and having a neutral position between said fixed contacts, a hand-lever, a second lever moved by the hand-lever up or down from its normal horizontal position to a circuit-cl0sing position above or below the pivotal point of said lever, an electro-responsive device, and

means interposed between said electro-re having a neutral position between said fixed contacts, a-pivoted member connected to said movable contact, 'a spring put under tension by the movement of said movable contact away from neutral position, means for moving said member to dillt'erent circuitclosing positions, latches forholding said memberin said oircuit-closing positions, and clectro-responsive means for releasing said member and permitting said spring to act.

20. In an electric switch, fixed contacts, a rrovable contact cooperating therewith and having a. neutral position between said fixed cont acts, a lever, a spring put under tension by the movement of the lever, a hand-lever for holding said lever in circuit-closing position above or below-its pivotal point, means for holding said lever and saidhand-lever in said circuit-closing positions, and means for releasing said lever and allowing said spring to exert its pressure.

21. In a double-throw electric switch having'its open position between two closed positions, a pivoted spring-actuated lever tending to assume a circuit-opening position, means for moving said lever into circuitclosing positions-above or below its pivotal point, a latch enacting. with said lever to retain it in circuit-closing position, and electroresponsive means to actuate said latch and release said lever.

22. In a double throw electric switch biased to open when closed and having its open position between two closed positions,

a pivoted hand-lever, a second pivotedlever,

said levers movable into two circuit-closing positions, means carried by the hand-lever for engaging the second lever, an electro-responsive device, and means actuated by the electro-responsive device to release the two levers from engagement.

23. In a double throw electric switch biased to open when closed and having its open position between two closed positions, a pivoted handdever, a second pivoted lever, said levers capable of being moved from a circuit-closing position below their pivotal point to a circuit-closing position above their pivotal point, means for holding said levers in said posit above or below their pivotal point, means for holding said levers in engagement, an electro-responsive device, and means actuated by the electro-responsive device to release the two lovers from engagement.

24. The combination with a double-throw switch biased to open when closed and having its open position between two closed positions, of-an operating handle therefor, and electrically controlled means for opening said switch independently of the handle.

25. The combination of a double-throw switch biased to open when closed and having its open position between two closed positions', a handle for said switch, and means responsive to'a variation of current in the circuit controlled by said switch for opening said switch independently of said handle.

In testimonywhereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

J. E. PEARSON, FRANK OCoNNon. 

